Chapter 6
1006 Words
TIAGO
I really don't know what's happening with me these days. First I devirginize someone and impregnated her. Second I'm inlove? Just what kind of potion had I drank?! Naloloka ako. Nakakaubos ng gandaa jusko! Tatay na ako. Boylet na rin? For twenty long years akong naghabol at naglaway sa boylet and now that two decades are gone, just what is this really?
Yanna is different. The way she kissed me, the way she smile, and how her mere existence matter to me is so far from being beautiful. It's the highest degree of euphoria. Every tiny little thing I said when I was drunk, I mean it. And I won't mind proving myself worthy of her love. I love Yanna.
Two months ago...
"Hi Mom." Masaya kong bati kay Mom sabay mano at halik sa pisngi.
"TIMOTHY! BAOG KA?! PA'NO NGAYON YAN HA?! SINONG MAGDADALA NG PANGALAN NATING MGA SUAREZ?! SINABI KO NA SA'YO NA ITIGIL MO YANG KAKASIGARILYO MO, BUT YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME!" Galit na sigaw ni Dad kay Kuya. Nagulat naman ako pero agad rin kaming nagtipon sa kainan. Halata namang walang imik lang si Kuya mula kanina pa, hindi parin nito nagagalaw ang pagkain niya.
"Ate. Anong nangyayari?" Tanong ko kay ate na ngayo'y kakarating parin pala.
"Gan—" Bago pa makapagsalita si Ate ay tinawag kami ni Dad.
"Tiffany! Tiago! Come here."
Pumunta kami sa hapag at umupo. Katabi ko si Mom at sa kabilang side si Ate at Kuya.
"I'm getting old, I don't have seen any children roaming here our house and I wanna see one." Madiing sabi ni Dad, puno ng awtoridad animo'y matatakot kang kontrahin siya.
"Timothy can't do it. I want to have a grandchild that will bring the name Suarez. And you Tiago will do it."
Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Dad, bakla ako.
"Pero Dad, diba alam niyo namang—"
"Ano?! Bakla ka?! Enough! You're following what your father ordered! You need to have a child!"
"Theodore. Wag mong ipilit si Tiago sa gan—"
"Shut up Esperanza. If your son won't do it, he can leave this house."
"Pero Da—"
"What?! You said you don't want. YOU'RE A DISGRACE! Isang baklang Suarez?! If that's what you think? YOU ARE NOT ONE. If you're planning to be like that, I'm ordering you not to use the SUAREZ! You are not my SON!"
"Theodore!" Saway ni Mom.
"Pero Dad, tanggap mo na diba?" Maluha-luhang tanong ko.
"Nagtitimpi lang ako sa'yo, TIAGO. Go out! MGA WALANG SILBI!"
That's an awful thing to remember but it still played on my mind like it was just yesterday. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi malungkot. When you've thought everything was going to their proper places, that is where things fall apart.
Yet now I have a reason to face Dad. I have Yanna, pero may Mark pa siya. We're cheating, hell yes. I wanna set things straight but is Yanna even inlove with me? Does she like me? It hurt me a bit asking Yanna that question. I wasn't expecting a positive response anyway but still I hope to hear it.
I head to my room after asking her that. I heard her bid goodbye. Should I stop her? And why should I? Ugh I hate it.
Pupuntahan niya ba si Mark? I don't know. Of course. He's her boyfriend, I have no right anyway. I saw her get in a taxi at napahiga nalang ako. But still my body move on their own. I found myself following her. They met up. I don't know what they were talking about but Yanna's crying and Mark is on his knees. What scene is this?
I saw her left Mark and after a couple of seconds she fell. Tinakbo ko ang distansyang naghihiwalay sa amin. I carried her in my arms. She passed out.
"Ano bang ginagawa mo sa sarili mo Yanna?" I asked her despite knowing I won't get an answer. I brought her to the hospital, nagpapanic ako s**t.
I talked with the doctor and she just passed out because of stress. I felt relieved and stayed with her in the room.
I hold her hand, it was cold. I intertwined it with mine nang bigla siyang gumalaw.
"Ba't ka nandito?" Tanong niya habang sinusubukang umupo. Inalalayan ko siya and gave her some apple but she refused.
"Ba't mo ginawa yun?" Tanong ko.
"Ang tanong sinasagot hindi sinasagot ng isa pang tanong."
"Pero sagot pa rin yun. Ba't mo yun ginawa? Di ba mahal mo pa siya?"
"Pero mas mahal kita." Sagot niya. "Noon pa di ko na mahal si Mark, the thing that I can't let go of him because I was scared. Scared for myself to be alone."
Hinalikan ko ang kamay niya nang pumasok ang doktor. It felt a little awkward.
"You should take care of yourself Misis. You're six weeks pregnant. And mister, mood swings are common in pregnant women kaya wag pong masyadong pahirapan si misis. Bawasan niyo po ang pagdadrama, wag po siyang bibiglain at pabayaan niyo lang po kung ano ang gusto ni misis."
Umalis ang doktor at iniwan kami. Wooh, mister?
"We're going home." I said firmly.
"Ayaw." Sabi nito na parang bata.
"Yanna? I'm taking care of you."
"Bakit muna?"
"Kasi buntis ka."
"Yun lang?"
"Oo?"
"Ay. Di ako sasama."
"Wag ka ngang umastang bata."
"Di mo 'ko mahal eh."
"Ha?"
"Sabihin mo munang mahal mo ako." Napairap nalang ako. Halos lumabas naman ang dalawang eyeballs ko nang sinampal ako nito.
"Ba't mo ako sinampal?" Reklamo ko habang hinimas-himas ang pisngi kong sinampal niya.
"Ako, Tiago Emmanuel Suarez wag mong ginaganyan ah."
"Anong—"
"Yang kabaklaan mo ha? Magkakaanak na tayo tapos gaganyan ka?"
"Di na po." Ang sakit kaya nung sampal.
"Sige naaaaaa. Sabihin mo naaaa."
"Na ano?"
"Mahal mo ako."
"Mahal kita."
"Yun lang? Walang dagdag?"
Napasinghap nalang ako.
"Yanna Jasmin Marquez mahal ko at mamahalin. Halina at uuwi na po tayo."
"Kahit di mo sabihin sasama ako sa'yo!"
Nagulat ako nang tumayo ito at tumalon papunta sakin. Nakakaloka ha.
- Writer
